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SAC Health announces ‘final’ round of 52 layoffs
The layoffs are part of a two-phase restructuring to close a multimillion-dollar budget gap.
Virginia Tech leads multimillion-dollar project for women's health
A team of researchers from across the country will investigate the connection between hormones and vaginal tissue health in a project funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Millions of dollars are coming for rural health. But thousands are losing Medicaid to pay for it.
Many West Virginians will stop qualifying for Medicaid. A new rural healthcare fund won’t help them pay for care.
Euro's dollar resilience faces energy price, political risk tests
The fortunes of the euro, trading not far off its lowest levels of the year against the dollar, are in the grip of a global energy shock and growing political risk in Europe.
Analysis-Euro’s dollar resilience faces energy price, political risk tests
By Sophie Kiderlin and Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The fortunes of the euro, trading not far off its lowest levels of the year against the dollar, are in the grip of a global energy shock and growing political risk in Europe. The euro...
Trump drops plan to detain immigrants at New Jersey military baseNJ Spotlight News
Investigative arm of Congress finds millions of dollars wasted on abandoned effort to turn other properties into holding areas
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 6:11 p.m. EDT
Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history, dedicates top prize to Dolly Parton
Ranking Member Markey: SBA Administrator Loeffler, Trump Administration are Refusing to Answer to America’s 36+ Million Small Businesses and Workers, Leaving Main Street Behind
Loeffler canceled her scheduled Sept. 30 appearance before the Senate Small Business Committee, has not appeared before SBC in more than a year (Washington, September 28) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler canceled her scheduled Wednesday appearance before the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Administrator Loeffler has not appeared before the committee in more than a year and has consistently refused to provide substantial answers to committee members in person, in writing, or via requested briefings. In June, Ranking Member Markey led every Democratic member of the committee in calling on Administrator Loeffler to appear before the committee to answer for the Trump administration’s cruel attacks on American small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers. The Democratic lawmakers still have not received a response from Administrator Loeffler. “It is unacceptable that Administrator Loeffler chose to cancel her appearance before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. The Trump administration is once again ignoring the more than 36 million American small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers who drive our economy and enrich our communities by refusing to answer questions about this administration’s reckless economic policies. It has been more than a year since Administrator Loeffler has appeared before our committee and answered questions from both Democrats and Republicans. Since then, the Trump administration’s attacks on Main Street have only worsened. “Small businesses are facing record high gas and diesel prices, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and never-ending uncertainty from Trump’s trade war with the world. Trump has terrorized Main Streets across the country with violent ICE raids, destroying families, communities, and local economies. Meanwhile, Administrator Loeffler and the Trump SBA have been in a Witness Protection Program, ignoring the Pain on Main Street that they have created. They have chosen to make drastic cuts to SBA funding and essential, bipartisan programs, including the closure of the SBA office in Springfield and removal of the SBA office from Boston; directly attacked immigrant small business owners and destroyed the promise of the American Dream; and proposed shortsighted small business size rules that would benefit billion-dollar businesses over actual small businesses. “It’s clear that Administrator Loeffler, President Trump, and their CEO billionaire buddies want to turn the Small Business Administration into the Big Business Administration, tear down our economy, and abandon Main Street. If that is indeed this administration’s goal, Administrator Loeffler must answer to the millions of small businesses, workers, and families in Massachusetts and across the country that this administration is leaving behind.” ###
Record money, murky messaging: What Michigan voters should know about political advertisements
Hundreds of millions of dollars are being poured into Michigan’s midterm elections
Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital's electronic health record system to undergo multimillion-dollar upgrade
On Oct. 3, Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital will transition to a new electronic health record system that will enhance care coordination.
Trump ignites outrage from political world by ‘stealing’ from taxpayers to fund ad campaign: ‘Completely illegal’
Experts rail against ‘corrupt’ use of public dollars for ‘political propaganda’ ahead of midterm elections
Billy Ray Cyrus shares never-before-seen letter from Dolly Parton: ‘One of my most prized possessions’
The Country singer unveiled the note in honor of “9 to 5 Day,” a.k.a Dolly Parton Day, adding, “Today felt like the right day to share it.”
How Dolly Parton’s Estate Fight Exposes Hidden Risks In Family Businesses
Families with trusts or legacy businesses can learn from Dolly Parton's estate dispute, which shows how heir‑employees, governance gaps and unclear authority spark conflict.
Vinik Sports Group, Cabot Citrus Farms unveil new premium hospitality destination at Benchmark International Arena
Multi-million-dollar transformation creates elevated Cabot Club experience for hockey, concerts and live events
TKO Group Holdings (TKO) Benefit from Strong Demand for Sports and Entertainment
Cooper Investors, an investment management firm, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for “Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund (Unhedged)”. The letter can be downloaded here. The Fund returned 6.6% for the quarter, bringing its financial-year return to -6.4%. On a local currency basis, performance was approximately flat for the year, as the strengthening Australian Dollar […]
In brief: '9 to 5' headed back to theaters and more
Pour yourself a cup of ambition and head out to your local movie theater. 9 to 5 is headed back to movie theaters for a special, weeklong run starting on Oct. 9. This will be a newly restored version of the classic satirical workplace comedy starring the late Dolly Parton. Additionally, Disney is set to donate net proceeds from each ticket purchased for the rerelease in the U.S. to the Dollywood Foundation in support of its flagship program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Disney is the parent company of ABC News ...Off Campus star Ella Bright has found her next gig. The actress confirmed she will star opposite Mason Thames in the movie Narcs in a post shared to her Instagram Story. This marks Bright's first major studio feature role. The upcoming coming-of-age comedy will be made for Sony Pictures. While the movie's plot is being kept under wraps, it will serve as the directorial debut of John Phillips, the writer of No Hard Feelings, Good Boys and Dirty Grandpa ... TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: 'fixed-big-ad-top-asset', slot: 1, fold: "above"}); Did you miss Evil Dead Burn in theaters? Not to worry. The film is set to make its global streaming debut on HBO Max on Oct. 2. Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and Maude Davey star in the film that was directed by Sébastien Vaniček ...Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading kmaland.comAt KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.
Rochester’s explosive growth leaves some businesses behind
A public-private partnership that guides Mayo Clinic’s expansion approved half a million dollars amid ongoing construction that business owners say is hurting customer access and their bottom lines.
Navigating the American Dream: How Integrated Financial Tools, Credit and Rewards Can Help Small Businesses Succeed
(Feature Impact) Owning a small business has been a cornerstone of the “American Dream” for generations. It represents the chance to transform a passion into a livelihood and legacy. However, turning dreams into reality is rarely a smooth or easy process and requires more than ambition alone. Today’s business owners need support and access to tools that enable them to overcome challenges and keep growing.#placement_678081_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid678081 = window.pid678081 || rnd;var plc678081 = window.plc678081 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=678081;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid678081+';place='+(plc678081++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Recent research conducted by the Capital One Insights Center shows 75% of more than 1,000 surveyed small business owners with more than one employee and annual revenues of up to $20 million are confident about the future, and 69% believe their business is actively primed for growth.While this optimism is promising, 47% of business owners still said their operations either stayed the same or became less efficient over the past year, citing issues like back-office friction and fragmented financial systems that make it difficult to get a clear picture of the health of their businesses.If you’re a small business owner eager to grow but not sure how to get there, start with this advice from real small business owners and experts at Capital One.Identify Sources of FrictionBefore you can pour effort into growth, you must understand what barriers are holding you back. Take time to look under the hood of your business to identify where time and energy is being lost.For example, you may be among the 78% of small business owners who feel stressed and uncertain about expense management – think hours spent hunting for receipts, manually entering numbers into software and reconciling accounts. Operational challenges aren’t just a hassle; they also pull attention away from important priorities like serving your customers and planning for growth. “We were focused on making as many candles as possible, especially during the busy season,” said Katie Roering, co-owner of Fontana Candle Co. “A lot of the back-office tasks like procurement, raw material purchasing, forecasting – all the really important things – were done at 3 a.m., 8 p.m. or on Saturday and Sunday, and there really just was not enough time in the day to get everything done that we needed to. We just knew as we continued to grow, we needed to streamline our processes, build out our team and keep moving forward.”Use Integrated Tools to Manage FinancesInstead of balancing 10 different tracking and analysis tools, you can turn to one-stop solutions to improve efficiency. Time gets lost when you’re forced to manually gather and interpret relevant data before you’re able to act. You need a platform that handles the busywork for you.Integrated, or “all-in-one,” financial tools – like accounting and bookkeeping platforms with automation capabilities or business credit cards featuring built-in analytical tools – allow you to easily stay on top of cash flow and day-to-day operations. For small businesses where every hour and dollar makes a difference, consolidating and automating systems can have an immediate impact. In fact, 51% of survey respondents said integrated tools have already fueled their growth.Leverage Credit Access and Rewards WiselyGrowth requires capital, so access to credit is a game-changer for many business owners, with 77% describing it as a key factor in achieving business resilience. Having funds accessible when you need them makes your business more capable of weathering storms such as equipment failures and seasonal slowdowns. It also puts the power in your hands to act when an exciting opportunity presents itself, like an inventory flash sale or the chance to advertise in a new market.Access to credit comes with another advantage: rewards. By using credit cards for your daily business expenses, you can earn cash back, points or travel rewards. Whether you redeem these to cover everyday expenses, book business trips or reinvest in the business, they can act as a bonus source of income. Learn to maximize rewards like the 84% of small business cardholders surveyed so you aren’t leaving money on the table.To learn more about how small business owners can identify obstacles, employ integrated financial tools and use credit as a tool for growth, read the full report at capitalone.com/about/insights-center.Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:25 a.m. EDT
Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history, dedicates top prize to Dolly Parton
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 11:28 p.m. EDT
Taylor Swift becomes most-awarded artist in MTV VMAs history, dedicates top prize to Dolly Parton
A Dolly Parton tribute, Madonna performs, LISA wins: What to know about the 2026 MTV VMAs
Madonna opened the starry 2026 MTV Video Music Awards and was joined by her recent collaborators Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx. LISA won the first award for best pop. Kacey
Clinic owner stole millions from military health program to buy luxuries like gold-plated Cybertruck, DOJ says
A Texas man is accused of stealing millions of taxpayer dollars from a military health care program.
Following the Dollars in American Politics
Money plays a powerful—and sometimes difficult to understand—role in American elections. Voters regularly hear terms such as campaign committees, PACs, Super PACs, independent expenditures, and issue advocacy. However, it is
White House airs another government-funded ad, this time with Trump warning of ‘final battle’
The Trump administration is set to launch another overtly political campaign ad funded by taxpayer dollars, attacking the “fake news media” and “the sick political class that hates our country.”
Reba McEntire missed a call from Dolly Parton before singer's death
Reba McEntire has revealed she missed a chance to chat with her pal Dolly Parton one more time just weeks before the country music icon's death.
Was Dolly Parton country music’s richest singer? The answer might surprise you
The richest singer in country music has a net worth of more than $1 billion.
New Orleans celebrates Dolly Parton Day, in photos
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fans in New Orleans celebrated Dolly Parton Day, declared in honor of the late country music icon, on Sept. 25. There was music, colorful tributes and
New Orleans celebrates Dolly Parton Day, in photos
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fans in New Orleans celebrated Dolly Parton Day, declared in honor of the late country music icon, on Sept. 25. There was music, colorful tributes and
New Orleans celebrates Dolly Parton Day, in photos
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fans in New Orleans celebrated Dolly Parton Day, declared in honor of the late country music icon, on Sept. 25. There was music, colorful tributes and plenty of Dolly-inspired...
New Orleans celebrates Dolly Parton Day, in photos
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Fans in New Orleans celebrated Dolly Parton Day, declared in honor of the late country music icon, on Sept. 25. There was music, colorful tributes and plenty of Dolly-inspired...
Sylvester Stallone reveals “Rhinestone” is ‘my favorite film I’ve ever done’ on Dolly Parton Day: ‘Besides “Rocky”, of course’
The “Rambo” star celebrated his former costar, who died on Aug. 25.
Democratic lawmakers oppose state dollars for nuclear
They argue that taxpayers and ratepayers should not be asked to subsidize new nuclear projects.
Democratic lawmakers oppose state dollars for nuclear
They argue that taxpayers and ratepayers should not be asked to subsidize new nuclear projects.
Reba McEntire reveals she missed a call from Dolly Parton before she died: ‘I’ll never know why she called’
Reba McEntire hopes that ‘one day’ she will find out why Dolly Parton called her before she died.
Changing the partying landscape: Health and wellness parties to come to fraternity and sorority life across the country
The wellness industry has surpassed a value of $6 trillion dollars this year, according to Forbes. In the saturated wellness market, brands like Marty Moc’s Sweat and Soak is trying to be the next big thing that wellness consumers move toward. Marty Mocs, a 24-year old recent graduate of Liberty University, started his wellness brand...
Harford County businesses celebrate Dolly Day, raising money for Imagination Library
Businesses celebrated Dolly Day by participating in fundraising efforts to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Harford County.
Dolly Parton recorded a duet with Bono before she died that will be on U2's next album
LOS ANGELES — Friday is Dolly Parton Day and the late country icon remains a gift that keeps on giving. Just months before her death in August at age 80,
Dolly Parton recorded a song with Bono before she died
Dolly Parton recorded a duet with Bono just months before she died that will be included on U2's upcoming album 'Carnaval De Luz.'
Downtown Marion celebrates Dolly Parton on 9/25 day
MARION — Cowboy hats and the color pink were not hard to find in downtown Marion Friday, as folks celebrated the day in honor of a country music icon.
Homewood BBQ spot improves as 5 other eateries fall below health standards
Five Jefferson County food establishments, American Deli, Jimmy Johns, Walmart Deli, Triple S Food Store and Dollar General, scored below 85 in health inspections, while Jim N' Nicks in Homewood cleared reinspection with a 97 after months out of compliance, according to JCDH.
SF business owner accused of embezzling over $500K
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A co-owner of a Sioux Falls property management company is accused of embezzling more than half-a-million dollars from multiple businesses. Court documents accuse J…
José Javier Rodríguez launches multimillion-dollar ‘Give ’Em Hell’ statewide ad campaign
The 30-second spot follows poling showing him and the Republican incumbent statistically tied in the Attorney General’s race.
How to live like Dolly on '9-2-5' day
On Friday, communities across the U.S. are hosting parades and book drives, and sharing yummy treats, in honor of the first Dolly Parton 9-2-5 Day.
Dolly Parton Day celebrated across the US: What to know
Dolly Parton attends We Are Family Foundation honors Dolly Parton & Jean Paul Gaultier at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
Seattle and Western WA celebrate ‘9 to 5’ Dolly Parton Day
Communities across the world, including Seattle, are celebrating Dolly Day on Sept. 25 — or 9/25 — in a clever nod to her hit song “9 to 5.”
Seattle, Western WA celebrates ‘9 to 5’ Dolly Parton Day
Communities across the world, including Seattle, are celebrating Dolly Day on Sept. 25 — or 9/25 — in a clever nod to her hit song “9 to 5.”
It’s officially Dolly Parton Day, with parades, pink lights and book drives
Parton died of cancer last month at age 80
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Why the U.S. Chamber Shows Up at UNGA: Connecting American Business to the World
Motorcades, boardrooms, and billion-dollar conversations: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Chief International Affairs Officer reflects on what the UN General Assembly really means for American business and global growth.
Unused tents and uneaten food: Watchdog finds ‘waste’ in immigration crackdown
In a report Thursday, the Government Accountability Office said the Trump administration squandered millions of dollars to expand detention.
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Dolly Day and other weekend events fill hometowns
DOLLY DAY EVENTS: Our hometowns celebrate 9-2-5 with disco, karaoke and more
Amid rising political violence, N.J. passes bill that would allow campaigns to use funds for security
The bill, which would campaign dollars to pay for politicians' alarm systems and other security measures, now heads to Gov. Mikie Sherrill's desk.
Academy of Dance Arts announces Dolly Parton-inspired book d...
Academy of Dance Arts will launch a two-month Dolly Parton-inspired book drive Sept. 25, seeking 925 books for local children and teens.
RFK Jr.'s ethics filing reveals book deals worth millions of dollars
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s annual financial disclosure revealed he has received two lucrative book advances and free flights from a friend while in office.
Caesars stockholders approve $6 billion merger with Fertitta
Caesars Entertainment shareholders have approved a multibillion-dollar merger with Fertitta Gaming
U2's new album 'Carnaval De Luz,' out in November, will feature Dolly Parton on a song
U2 is set to release their first full-length album of new material in nine years, titled “Carnaval De Luz.” | Talk 1370
U2's new album 'Carnaval De Luz,' out in November, will feature Dolly Parton on a song
U2 is set to release their first full-length album of new material in nine years, titled “Carnaval De Luz.” | Newsradio 1140 WRVA
U2's new album 'Carnaval De Luz,' out in November, will feature Dolly Parton on a song
U2 is set to release their first full-length album of new material in nine years, titled “Carnaval De Luz.” | WWL
Dolly Parton’s sister addresses family feud rumors amid nephew restraining order
Dolly Parton’s sister Freida has addressed a rumored rift among the family after the late country singer’s estate was granted a temporary restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver. “I’ll
U2 reveals new album with Dolly Parton's final vocal duet
Fifty years ago this week, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. posted a handwritten note on a school bulletin board seeking "musicians to form band.” Five decades later, that band – U2
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
FC Dallas planning to billion-dollar entertainment district around Toyota Stadium
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McDonald’s is spending billions to make major changes
McDonald’s is spending billions of dollars to boost its franchises, an effort to cement its title as the leader in fast food amid growing competition.
Citrus Health Network director accused of stealing more than $1 million
Thomas Jardon is being held on a $700,000 bond after being accused of stealing $1.2 million in public dollars from the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.
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The dollar clung to a two-month high on Thursday after a strong manufacturing reading reignited inflation fears and rate-hike bets, while a weak Treasury auction sent yields higher across the curve, providing fresh impetus to the US currency.
Audit flags oversight lapses as Maryland Department of Health misses $42M in collections
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Dolly Parton's sister Freida defends nephew after firing, restraining order
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Trump SBA to Extend Comment Period After Ranking Member Markey Leads Effort to Rescind SBA Policy that Reclassifies Billion-Dollar Businesses as “Small Businesses”
Trump admin policy would reclassify 114,000 larger businesses as “small” to access small business resources and win federal contracts meant for small businesses Letter (PDF) (Washington, September 23) – This week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its plans to extend the deadline to submit comments on its controversial proposed rule regarding small business size standards until November 20. The Trump SBA’s announcement came shortly after Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), alongside 12 of his Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Administrator Kelly Loeffler demanding that the Trump SBA rescind a harmful policy that would dramatically redefine what a small business is. The Administration’s proposed policy would change the small business size standard to designate 114,000 larger companies some with annual revenue above $1 billion—as small businesses, giving these businesses access to small business resources and federal contracts typically set aside for actual small businesses. In the letter, Ranking Member Markey and the lawmakers emphasized that small businesses will be shut out of the federal contracting space as government agencies award contracts to larger businesses, causing small businesses to lose revenue, lay off workers, or close their businesses entirely. “For more than 70 years, SBA’s mission has been clear: promote and protect the interests and viability of small businesses. By proceeding with this proposed methodology and rule, SBA moves further away from its mission of facilitating healthy small business participation in the U.S. economy. We urge SBA to rescind these proposals, meet in earnest with small businesses across the country, and discuss the proposal and methodology with congressional committees of jurisdiction. SBA must be committed to developing measured increases to the size standards that do not reward large, billion-dollar companies but instead helps our small businesses survive, grow, and thrive.” The lawmakers highlighted the following points in their letter: Under the Trump SBA’s new size standards, the highest receipts-based standard would exceed $1 billion in annual revenue—more than 20 times the current $47 million maximum—and the highest employee-based standard would reach 3,600 employees—more than twice the current 1,500 employee maximum. Specific increases include an increase in size of nearly 492% for banks, 1,500% for law firms, and more than 2,051% for private equity firms. Of the 114,000 businesses that would be newly classified as small, more than 37,000 of these businesses have collectively won more than 100,000 federal contracts worth approximately $71 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 alone without a small business designation. If SBA included the awards won by these 37,000 businesses in its Fiscal Year 2025 analysis, small business contracts would have accounted for 38% of all federal contracts, instead of the 27% that SBA announced this summer. The letter was co-signed by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Coons (D-Dela.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). Ranking Member Markey is fighting to protect small businesses in Massachusetts and across the country from the Trump SBA’s harmful policies that put big businesses and billionaires over American small businesses, workers, and families. In August, Ranking Member Markey slammed the Trump SBA’s proposal to overhaul its small business size standards to benefit big businesses over small businesses. In July, Ranking Member Markey and House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to rescind the Trump administration’s policy that bans green card holders from accessing essential Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to start and grow their businesses. Also in July, Ranking Member Markey and Senator Hirono submitted a comment letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) opposing a proposed rule change by Trump’s SBA to the 8(a) Business Development Program that would harm underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. In June, Ranking Member Markey released a new report highlighting Trump’s drastic reduction in federal contracting dollars awarded to American small businesses. ###
Inside Dolly Parton's estate drama and family legal battle, explained
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Customers say unlicensed pool contractor left them with unfinished holes, thousands in losses
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Dolly Parton estate gets restraining order against nephew Bryan Seaver
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Rare country performance set for MTV VMAs as show reveals Dolly Parton tribute led by huge genre star
The MTV VMAs typically don’t feature country music on the main show, though a huge country star will tribute Parton after the icon’s death.
Dolly Parton's estate is accusing her nephew of threatening to destroy the country music icon's legacy
Danny Nozell, the late country music icon’s longtime manager, is seeking a restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, accusing him of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s leg...
Billion-dollar entertainment district planned around FC Dallas's Toyota Stadium
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New Mexico is spending big to fix behavioral healthcare. Why is there so little to show?
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A Pod of Their Own’s Annual Dollars 4 Dingers event
Join us Saturday to raise money for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
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Dolly Parton’s estate accuses nephew of threatening to destroy her legacy
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Is PENN Entertainment (PENN) Stock a Buy After Its Latest Multi-Million Dollar Bet?
Analyzing a gaming and entertainment operator requires looking past headline-grabbing project announcements to examine underlying cash generation, portfolio compounding, and capital allocation discipline. PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) has spent recent periods restructuring its debt profile, improving operating margins, and refining its regional asset footprint to focus on higher-return landside venues. While the company has made measurable […]
Federal health care subsidies devour the budget and kill patient satisfaction
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Dolly Parton’s estate accuses her nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy
Dolly Parton’s estate has accused the country music icon’s nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire and have asked a judge to keep him away from its employees and business dealings | KNX News 1070 AM
Dolly Parton’s estate accuses her nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy
Dolly Parton’s estate has accused the country music icon’s nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire and have asked a judge to keep him away from its employees and business dealings
Dolly Parton's estate seeks restraining order against singer's nephew
Dolly Parton's estate requested a restraining order against Bryan Seaver after he was fired as head of security, according to People and TMZ.
Dolly Parton’s estate files lawsuit against terminated nephew, claims he made violent threats
Bryan Seaver is accused of “threatening” his late aunt’s estate and “those associated with Miss Parton’s legacy.”
Column: Dolly Parton transcended politics by putting humanity first
Americans don’t agree on much these days. Dolly Parton was the rare exception. Country bumpkins and city drag queens. God-fearing Christians and queer people. Conservatives and progressives. Younger fans who discovered her decades after her rise to fame and generations who grew up alongside her. Parton’s reach was seemingly boundless, her audience a study in...
Businesses ‘frozen out’ of Trump’s tariff channel with China
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Local business owner says Somewhere Fest street closure is costing her thousands
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Dolly Parton’s nephew removed from estate security team, report says
The nephew of pop music superstar Dolly Parton has been removed from the security team for the late singer’s estate. Bryan Seaver was dismissed from his role overseeing protection of
Lancaster candle company grows from basement startup to global business
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$3M hotel renovation complete in Lakewood Ranch
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Celebrate Dolly Parton Day on 9/25 with parties, books and tattoos!
In honor of the iconic star and her song “9 to 5,” Sept. 25 has been dubbed “Dolly Parton Day.” Check out these Parton-inspired events to celebrate!
Hear Warner, neighbors, at Dolly’s Coffeehouse
Geoff Warner will be the featured performer at Dolly’s Coffeehouse in Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 7-9 p.m.
White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants
Federal officials are drafting an executive order that would place grants under review by an outside panel, the latest effort to redirect billions of dollars in research spending.
White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants
Federal officials are drafting an executive order that would place grants under review by an outside panel, the latest effort to redirect billions of dollars in research spending.